1991 Ford Mustang

High concern

Owners filed 77 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system › ignition › switch. It has been recalled 6 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System › Ignition › Switch13
070
Electrical System5
020
Air Bags › Frontal5
300
Power Train › Automatic Transmission4
000
Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash4
040
Electrical System › Ignition3
000
Vehicle Speed Control2
202
Suspension › Rear › Shock Absorber2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components2
000
Seats2
000

6 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Headlights09E025000
Filed May 11, 200942,540 vehiclesDope, Inc.

Defect. DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights08E050000
Filed Aug 11, 20081,921 vehiclesK2 Motor Corporation

Defect. K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

Exterior Lighting06E049000
Filed May 24, 200627,176 vehiclesCk Motorsport, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Electrical System › Ignition96V071000
Filed Apr 25, 19967,900,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission91V048000
Filed Mar 18, 19916,800 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. THE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY CONTAINS A PARK CAM WITH INADEQUATE SURFACE HARDNESS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO PARK DISENGAGEMENT OR NO PARK ENGAGEMENT WHEN THE LEVER IS PLACED IN PARK.

Risk. IF PARK IS NOT ENGAGED AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS OFF, AVEHICLE ROLL-AWAY COULD RESULT.

Remedy. REPLACE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical SystemFire
Filed Mar 4, 202049,500 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC NOTIFIED HIM THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HAD REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL INJECTOR, AIR FLOW, AND ROLLER ROCKERS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE MECHANIC USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, THE POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE NOT CALLED. THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,500.

Electrical System
Filed Jun 24, 201579,064 milesCA

THE AIRBAGS COULD DEPLOY AT AN INAPPROPRIATE TIME OR NOT AT ALL DUE TO THIS PROBLEM THE AIR BAG BLINKS ALL THE TIME AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NO ANSWERS SO I AM RED FLAGGING THIS PROBLEM THANK YOU

Seat Belts
Filed Jul 14, 2014138,710 milesMS

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT AUTOMATICALLY CAUSING CONCERN BELT WOULD FAIL TO WORK. *TR

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Apr 16, 201365,000 milesWA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND THEN FIRE FROM THE DASH BOARD. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND PERSONALLY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THE FIRE WAS STARTED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE ECM. THE CONTACT CALLED MANUFACTURER AFTER NOTICING A NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER 96V071000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE PARTS FOR THE REMEDY WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL SIX MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash2 injured
Filed Oct 28, 2010160,905 milesKS

1991 MUSTANG LX 5.0 SUDDEN ACCELERATION ACCIDENT. 1991 MUSTANG LX 5.0 MAKING LEFT TURN FROM STOP SIGN IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN ENGINE ON ITS OWN WENT FULL THROTTLE CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND LEAVE ROADWAY WHERE IT CONTINUED UNDER FULL THROTTLE THROUGH TREE BRANCHES AND BUSHES, A 6 FOOT WROUGHT IRON STYLE FENCE OVER A RETAINING WALL AT WHICH POINT IT BRIEFLY BECAME AIRBORNE LANDING ON A POOL DECK THEN CONTINUING AT FULL THROTTLE ONTO THE SUBDIVISION SWIMMING POOL TARP UNTIL THE FRONT END CRASHED INTO THE POOL WALL ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE POOL CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. AFTER IMPACT WITH THE POOL WALL, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WHICH WAS STILL ON THE POOL DECK CONTINUED SPINNING LEAVING MELTED RUBBER ON THE POOL DECK. THE MUSTANG ENDED UP PARTIALLY SUBMERGED. THANK GOD THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES. 7 YEARS PREVIOUSLY THE SAME 1991 MUSTANG ON ITS OWN, WENT FULL THROTTLE, BUT ON A STRAIGHT 4 LANE ROAD. AT THAT TIME, THE DRIVER TRIED TO STOP THE MUSTANG BY BRAKING TO NO AVAIL. THE MUSTANG TRAVELED OVER 2 MILES WITH THE DRIVER APPLYING THE BRAKES UNTIL THE DRIVER RAN OUT OF ROAD AND DROVE THE CAR UPHILL BETWEEN TWO HOUSES AT WHICH TIME THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN THE CAR WAS RESTARTED IN PARK AFTER THE EVENT, THE ENGINE AGAIN WENT TO FULL THROTTLE IN PARK WITH THE TACHOMETER GOING TO THE 6,000 RPM RANGE. AT THAT TIME, THE CAR WAS TRUCKED TO A FORD DEALER WHICH ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND REPAIRED THE LINKAGE. THE FORD DEAL

Parking Brake
Filed Sep 24, 2008124,000 milesIL

I HAD PARKED MY CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY, I PUT MY PARKING BRAKE ON BECAUSE MY DRIVEWAY IS ON A SLOPE. I WENT TO USE THE CAR AGAIN I REMOVED THE PARKING BRAKE AND THAT'S WHEN MY BRAKES LOCKED UP. SINCE THEN I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR IN THE GARAGE. *TR

Exterior LightingFire
Filed Jun 16, 2008126,000 milesWI

HAD SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER DASH. LOST RADIO, AND TAIL LIGHTS WIRES FROM LIGHT SWITCH TO TAIL LIGHT MELTED. NOT SURE IF FROM FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. WOULD LIKE MORE INFO. *TR

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Jun 12, 2008170,000 milesCA

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNATTENDED, THE AIR BAG IN STEERING WHEEL ACTIVATED. THIS IS THE FIRST OCCURANCE. NO INJURIES,. REPLACEMENT HAS NOT OCCURED. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 21, 200680,000 milesMI

THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT THREE TIMES IN THIS CAR. THE FIRST TIME IT HAD 20000 MILES ON IT AND UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALER SENT IT TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO REBUILT IT. ONE YEAR LATER IT WENT OUT AGAIN. THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER FORD WOULD NOT COVER. I GOT STUCK REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF POCKET. NOW THE TRANSMISSION WENT AGAIN. *JB

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jan 4, 2006115,000 milesNC

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN 96V071000 CONCERNING THE IGNITION. HOWEVER THE RECALL REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. *AK

Fuel System, Other
Filed Apr 21, 200464,225 milesCA

CAR STALLS OUT AND DOSN'T RESART FOR UP TO 30 MINUTES

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Mar 9, 2004263,000 milesTX

IGNITION SWITCH GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT GO INTO THE AUXILIARY MODE. NHTSA RECALL 96V071000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. ALSO, FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE DETACHED AT THE SIDES. DEALER INSPECTED THE FLOOR, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FLOOR COULD BE FIXED, BUT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE DETACHED ON THE SIDES. *AK

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core
Filed Oct 24, 200365,000 milesNY

THE HEATER CORE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED SMOKE ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THE WINDOW ALSO FOGGED UP, BECAUSE THE DEFOGGER BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE COIL WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Oct 10, 200374,000 milesFL

ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED UNDER THE OWNER'S NOTIFICATION CAMPAIGNS. HEAD GASKET BLEW AGAIN, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WAS REFUSING TO REPAIR IT BECAUSE IT WAS OVER THE 100,000 MILES OF THE CAMPAIGNS WARRANTY.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Floor Shift
Filed Aug 12, 2003133,000 milesFL

I HAVE 1991 FORD MUSTANG WITH A NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 91V048000. FORD IS TELLING ME THAT THIERE IS NO SUCH RECALL IN THERE DATA BASE AND THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. THIS IS A BIG SAFTY ISSUE FOR ME CONSIDERING MY WIFE AND KIDS RIDE IN THIS CAR. I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS A VALID RECALL AND IF FORD IS NOT RESPONSIBLE TO REPAIR IT, THEN WHO?*AK

Air Bags
Filed Jul 15, 2003136,000 milesFL

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Jun 24, 2003OH

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON ACCIDENT AT 35MPH. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

Power Train
Filed Oct 31, 2002CA

THE SPEEDOMETER BOUNCES AROUND NOT STAYING A SPEED DRIVEN. THE CABLE AND THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURED BEFORE AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. TS

Child Seat
Filed Dec 7, 2001CA

ARMS OF THE TRAY ON BOTH SIDES (WHERE THEY ARE ATTACHED TO SEAT) CRACKED AND BROKEN. SEAT UNSAFE AND REPLACED WITH A NEW CAR SEAT. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan
Filed Dec 6, 2001TX

TENSION REGULATOR FOR FAN BELT FLAPS LOOSE. THIS IS 4TH TIME THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. *AK

20 of 77 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2005
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20266500Routine
202517600Routine
2024771200Do not drive
202315600Routine
202249910Routine
202155600Routine
2020120850Routine
2019148610Routine
2018191410Routine
2017265680Above average
2016376562Fatalities reported
20154361170Above average
2014359410Do not drive
2013271620Do not drive
2012469721Do not drive
2011466510Do not drive
2010261622Do not drive
2009181620Do not drive
2008347800Do not drive
2007615951Do not drive
2006424932Do not drive
2005705970Do not drive
2004116600Routine
2003145640Routine
2002118660Routine
2001173822Fatalities reported
2000311992Fatalities reported
19992131022Fatalities reported
199823614121Fatalities reported
19971761132Fatalities reported
19962461260Above average
199560216297Fatalities reported
199435613191Fatalities reported
19931017292Fatalities reported
1992695210High concern
1991 — this page776220High concern
1990855290High concern

Compare every Mustang year →

Reading this record

A high number of complaints describe fires or crashes.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 11, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.